I am currently rerading The Anatomy of Fascism by Robert
Paxton, and I find it simply a delight: History-wise, research-wise,
and literature-wise.
Yes, I said literature. The writing flows elegantly and reading becomes
a pleasure, even when Paxton goes into his analysis and opinions.
I am enjoying it as much as Ridley's bio of Mussolini.
I just wanted to recommend it and maybe someone can come up with
other suggestions.
🙂
Originally posted by SeitseI'm finding "The coming of the third reich" by Richard J Evans a good read - whenever I get time to read it!
I am currently rerading The Anatomy of Fascism by Robert
Paxton, and I find it simply a delight: History-wise, research-wise,
and literature-wise.
Yes, I said literature. The writing flows elegantly and reading becomes
a pleasure, even when Paxton goes into his analysis and opinions.
I am enjoying it as much as Ridley's bio of Mussolini.
I just wanted to recommend it and maybe someone can come up with
other suggestions.
🙂
sort of related (History)
The Lessons Of History by Will and Ariel Durant
Nice overview of history in general. Chapters include .. Biology and History, Race and History, Morals and History, Religion and History. Character, Economics, and Socialism and History.
It's a survey of human history , the nature of human experence, the evolution of civilization, the culture of man.
Read these books in college and can still recommend them:
Adolf Hitler, by John Toland
Berlin Diary, by William L. Shirer
Fin-De-Siecle Vienna: Politics and Culture, by Carl E. Schorske
Also read a rare book about Hitler’s time in Vienna which illuminates the beginnings of his ideology, including time spent at art school and sleeping on park benches. Unfortunately, I can’t recall the title. The Vienna period is fascinating though, and that’s why I’d recommend reading the book by Schorske since it gives more details about the last days of the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shirer
"William Lawrence Shirer (February 23, 1904 – December 28, 1993) was an American journalist and historian. He became known for his broadcasts on CBS from the German capital of Berlin during the Third Reich through the first year of World War II.
Shirer first became famous through his account of those years in his Berlin Diary (published in 1941), but his greatest achievement was his 1960 book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. This book of well over 1000 pages is still in print, and is a detailed examination of the Third Reich filled with historical information from German archives captured at the end of the war, along with impressions Shirer gained during his days as a correspondent in Berlin. Later in 1969, his work The Collapse of the Third Republic drew on his experience spent living and working in France from 1925 to 1933. This work is filled with historical information about the Battle of France from the secret orders and reports of the French High Command and of the commanding generals of the field. Shirer also used the memoirs, journals, and diaries of the prominent British, French, Italian, Spanish, and French figures in government, Parliament, the Army, and diplomacy.
"
Originally posted by SeitseModern life is boring. People crave emotional fulfilment. The violence of fascism is one way to meet this need. Crowds provide a sense of belonging and purpose all too keenly lacking for the isolated modern individual.
[b]why do you believe fascism is such a present topic nowadays and
left such a mark despite its lack of ideology?[/b]
Originally posted by Bosse de NageSharp. Agreed. The idolatry of action and will as 'values' and ends,
Modern life is boring. People crave emotional fulfilment. The violence of fascism is one way to meet this need. Crowds provide a sense of belonging and purpose all too keenly lacking for the isolated modern individual.
instead of means, made fascism quite comfortable. Stalin had to
put the Soviet inteligentsia to work every time he needed to
do something, so the action would be justified in the light of the
Marxist theory. Fascists just did it.